Yard parking to be police matter in Genoa

Enforcement in the Village of Genoa of illegal parking violations in residential yards will fall under the jurisdiction of the village police force.

The residential parking issue and several other zoning issues were reviewed during a recent public hearing.

No one from the public showed at the mid-May meeting that focused on the updated version of the Genoa Planning and Zoning Code, said Village Administrator Kevin Gladden. Neither did members of the planning commission who forwarded the approved document to village council.

In the past, several residents had complained to council that they were not allowed to park on their lawns for prolonged periods. Those regulations are outlined in the zoning book and had been discussed at previous council meetings but were under the jurisdiction of the zoning inspector.

“We’re going to transfer that to the codified codes,” Gladden said of the changes coming following the public hearing. “The zoning inspector should be dealing with the size of parking spaces and issues like that. Parking violations and citations are for the guys with guns and badges to handle.”

Police Chief Bob Bratton said he was advised on the council’s stand on the parking violators.

“Council wants us to be the ones to take care of it and that’s the way it will be,” Bratton said.

This spring, Chief Bob Bratton said his department has received a handful of complaints about parking on lawns. “It’s been a few here and there, mostly neighbors complaining about a parking situation.”

Officers have spoken to the homeowners, he said, adding “Usually, we only have to give them a warning,” he said.

Repeat violations will result in citations – a $10 ticket to be paid at the police station located in the Genoa administration building.

Park patrolsGenoa police are stepping up late night patrols especially around Veterans Park.

Curfew at the park in the western Ottawa County village is dusk, said Chief Bob Bratton.

“Summer is here and school is out. With the nice weather, we’ve been focusing on the parking area pretty heavily for the past few weeks,” Bratton said.

The quarry also opened for the 2012 swimming season on Memorial Day.

“And pretty soon, baseball games will be in full swing along with people out enjoying the nice weather,” the chief added.

Violators caught in the park after hours could be cited for trespassing, a misdemeanor offense.